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| KONZA NICOLE KID YOU NOT |
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| Nikki summer 2009 |
Much to my distress I must announce that at almost 13 years young, Nikki has developed
severe bilateral Hip Dysplasia.
She sustained an injury at the age of three when a horse stepped on her. She
sustained a left hairline left side of pelvic & into the hip acetabulum. X-ray at the time showed her hips as being normal
except for the fracture was located.
With rest & rehabilitation, it healed but left her with a very tiny limp. This
limp prevented her from being shown. I’m sure as nice as Nikki was; she could have obtained her championship.
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| Nikki, Lizzie & Tiger enjoying a rare sunny winter day |
In the few months she had rapid deterioration & x-ray confirmed the severe advancement
of osteoarthritis of the joint & it had advance to both hips. After a lenghty consultation with Kansas State University
Veterinarian School, Dr Dan Degengardth, DVM, Banner Creek Animal Hospital said she was not a very good candidate for the
very complicated bilateral hip replacement surgery due to her age & breed. She reacted poorly to anesthesia when she was
spayed when she when she was 7.
Although she’s now unable to walk or stand on her own in the rear; she remains strong in the front. Her alpha Pug "Queen
of the Hill" attitude remained intact but, she was obviously very depressed when she couldn’t run & play with
the hooligans (Including Nikki, I have 8 Pugs: 2 are Nikki's daughters, 1 granddaughter, 1 grandson and 3 "cousins" &
1 unrelated Pug!) We also have a “yard dog”, a goofy Boxer, Red. Nikki loves to boss him around & the foolish duffus completely submits to her!
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| Nikki & the Gang celebrating the 4th of July 2009 on the pond bridge |
This
picture of Nikki & the gang was taken this summer. She's the one with the clown collar & a big grin on. We were
al dressed up for our local small town 4th of July celebration, picnic & parade.
She had a occasional limp
but was still running all over the farm with the gang. With her pain meds, she never missed a step & often was in
front when the herd galloped up & down the hill. It was & still is Nikki's official job to be the boss
of every task & official greeter of everyone that came up the driveway!
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Gary’s
Christmas present to me was a “wheel Chair” cart for Nikki. “Eddie’s
Wheels” delivered a custom made cart Christmas Eve & Nikki immediately adapted to it without a fuss! She has learned
to eat, drink, pee, poop & go up & down the ramp off the front porch while in the cart.
We
got her raised bowls to eat & drink from shortly after taking the picture of he drinking from the bowl.
Learning
to find a pillow to rest on while on the cart has been a challenge to her. She
prefers to find me & get up in my lap rather than do the pillow thing.
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| Nikki in her "Hot Wheels" on day 2! |
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| Nikki benefited from raised water & food bowls while in her "Hot Wheels" |
Hard to believe this beautiful Pug is
almost 13 years old! If she wasn't in the wheel chair, you'd think is was 5 or 6. Her mask has hardly no gray
in it. In fact her daughter, Lizzie, age 9 is much grayer than Nikki!
Much to her embarrassment, she has become incontinent of bowel
& bladder & must wear a diaper all of the time. After a hit & miss
process, we have finally adapted a system that allows her comfort, freedom of movement & ease for me to change her “panties”. I use a regular toddlers diaper under her when she’s in the cart but while she’s
in bed or on the couch with me, she uses a 4T toddler pull-up with a hole cut for her tail.
To keep it the pull up from sliding off of her, I use a light weight step in halter with toddler “mitten clips”
attached to the halter & pull-up. She has learned when I pick up a fresh pull up & the scissors, to come over for
a change. A quick wipe with a fresh wipe & pull up the clean “panties”. For outings, we have some cute pink gingham or purple plaid for her! A girl can’t be caught in public with her “undies” showing! I plan on rigging her cart with blinking batteries for lights & flags for the 4th of July
parade. Silly thing will love it!
Typical
Nikki, she thrives on all of the attention. I know she can’t live forever
but meanwhile, she is once again enjoying life! I can’t wait till spring
& she can shadow me in the garden. LOL, I wonder if I can attach a tiny wagon
to her cart so she can pull my garden tools!!!!!
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| Nikki & the gang begging for treats! |
I
want to thank "Eddies Wheels" for making such a superior piece of medical equipment. I researched & found this to
be an superior made product. This custom canine wheel chair was made of quality material & has a very good warranty.
Carol, "Eddies Wheels" customer service, worked directly with me to make sure
the cart fit Nikki perfectly & met her needs for a continued quality of life.
I highly recommend them if you should have the need for a wheel chair for your pet!
Eddie's Wheels
| Konza Nicole Kid You Not & grandaughter, Bunny |
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| Nikki & Bunny relaxing on the couch late summer 2010 |
March
2011: Good news! Despite the recent loss of her daughter, Lizzie, Nikki is still going strong & remains the
Queen of Konza!
She
seems to have picked her successor to the throne: her granddaughter, Bunny!
Bunny can do no wrong & Nikki allows her to steal treats from her & maul
her.
Bunny’s registered name is: Konza Sapphire’s Revenge of Apsu, out
of Sally by Lewis. She had her first show last month in St Joe & seemed to enjoy herself.
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